Federal agents have launched an investigation into hip-hop singer Sean "Diddy" Combs and raided his houses in Los Angeles and the Miami region.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officers in New York spearheaded the investigation, which began when a former girlfriend filed a federal complaint against Combs in November, accusing him of sex trafficking.
Diddy has claimed that he is innocent and that his accusers were looking for "a quick payday." His New York-based lawyer, Ben Brafman, did not immediately reply to Reuters' requests for comment.
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The Los Angeles City News Service stated that numerous persons were held outside the residence, although it was unclear whether any arrests were made.
According to local media, federal agents executed a search warrant at the rap mogul's Miami-area mansion. Reuters video showed cops entering and exiting his residence on Miami Beach's Star Island, with agents taking a box of documents from the premises.
According to an HSI representative, "Earlier today, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners."
The statement did not go into detail on the nature of the probe. The HSI has extensive authority to investigate the illicit movement of people, products, money, technology, and contraband into, out of, and across the United States, including sex trafficking.
Cassandra Ventura, an R&B vocalist, sued Combs in federal court in Manhattan in mid-November, accusing him of physical abuse, sexual enslavement, and rape throughout a ten-year professional and emotional relationship.
Combs, the founder of the iconic company Bad Boy Records, is one of hip-hop's most prominent producers and executives, as well as a very successful singer and the creator of his own Sean John apparel brand.
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